07/04/2026
Just four years ago, Vozinha was watching the World Cup from home, cheering for Lionel Messi as a fan because Cabo Verde had not qualified. In 2026, his dream became reality.
The 40-year-old goalkeeper and captain of Cabo Verde helped lead his country on an unforgettable World Cup journey. He first made seven brilliant saves in a 0-0 draw against Spain, becoming one of the tournament's biggest surprise stars.
Then came the biggest challenge of all β facing Messi and Argentina in the Round of 32.
Before the match, Vozinha had said, "He's the greatest footballer of all time. Every team panics when they have to face him. Sharing the pitch with Messi is a dream, and I'll proudly tell my kids I played against him one day."
When the game began, Messi gave Argentina the lead. Cabo Verde refused to give up, with Deroy Duarte scoring the equalizer. In extra time, Lisandro MartΓnez put Argentina ahead again, but Sidny Lopes Cabral answered with another goal to make it 2-2.
The match stayed level until the 111th minute, when a deflected header from Cristian Romero was ruled an own goal by Diney Borges, giving Argentina a dramatic 3-2 victory after extra time.
Vozinha made eight outstanding saves and pushed one of the tournament favorites to the limit. Although Cabo Verde's World Cup journey came to an end, the team earned the respect of football fans everywhere.
For Vozinha, the dream was complete. He not only shared the pitch with Messi, but also helped create one of the most memorable matches of the tournament.
